PAPEITE. 
329 
which resulted in the French Government taking 
possession and establishing a Protectorate, and from 
that date (1843) up to the present administering the 
affairs, levying the import and export duties, and 
making the Queen an annual allowance of 1000/. per 
annum to keep quiet ; in fact, treating it to all intents 
as a French colony. 
Papeite lies at the end of a semicircular hay, 
seven miles west of Point Yenus, the northernmost 
part of the island. It is the chief town, the resi- 
dence of the Queen and seat of government ; but this 
is not incompatible with its being jf very limited 
dimensions, not rising above the grandeur of an 
ordinary English village. 
The dwellings of the Europeans, constructed for 
the most part of wood, roofed with palm-leaves, extend 
all along the edge of the bay, while diverging or 
running at right angles or parallel are pretty 
roads, which help to make regular streets, around 
which, and on every side, rise up bread-fruit, cocoa, 
palm, and orange trees, which make up in cheerful- 
ness for any deficiency in aspect. 
The streets of an evening, the lighted shops 
and stores surrounded by the beautiful trees and 
gaily dressed girls, the rollicking 46 blue-jackets ” 
from the two French war-ships in port and from 
the Challenger , the universal good-humour of every 
one, made a very novel, picturesque, and pleasing 
scene. 
